Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-07-16
AN AFRICAN QUEEN.
A Woman Ruler Living In Savage splen.
dor on the Banks of the zembesi.

The position of women in Africa l.
as degraded as in most other savage
lands, and life is a round Of hard,
unrequited toll to the weaker sex in
nearly all parts Of the continent.
Here and there, however, is native
queen who has absolute influence
over her people and who surrounds
herself with as much pomp and
circumstance as her position permits.
Mr.. C0illard, the French Protestant
missionary who saved the life OF
Serpa Pinto during that travellers
trip across the continent, has sent
home few facts about a picturesque
female who holds away over the
savage Barotse on the upper Zambesi.
One day recently Queen Mokuae
went on an excursion to the tombs Oi
her fathers. She was expected to re-
turn to her chief town two or three
days later, and on the appointed day
everybody was alert to hear the first
sound announcing the approach ol
the royal party. Suddenly the
measured beat of drums was SANITY
heard. "She is coming. The queen
is coming" the cry went through
the town, and several thousand men
women and children lined the bank
of the broad Zambesi and gazed down
the watery expanse. The sound o.
the drums grew louder and soon the
royal barge and the attending flee,
came into view.
Under pavilion made of gaudily
colored native mats sat the queen il
full view of her subjects. Forty
paddlers swiftly propelled her great
canoe up the stream. AS she came
opposite the town the women anG
girls, who were ranged in line or
shore, began to intone a chat, which
struck Mr.. Coillard as full of weirC
beauty. 1t recited the praises o.
Queen Mokuae. At last the prov o.
the queens barge struck the shore
and the crowds Of men who lined the
way from the rivers edge to the
queens mansion, instantly dropped
on their knees and began to claI
their hands, keeping time to the
DCdI Va AhC Ntt hillos
The queen stepped out of her barge
She was in gala dress for the occasion
Over her shoulders she wore q bright
ly colored indian robe. Severa
strings Of beads and ornaments o
ivory encircled her neck, and large
white pearls were arranged with carr
in her hair. She saluted tine white
man with a wave of her hand, bu
appeared to pay no attention to he
subjects. A procession was instantly
formed with the native band at it
head. The musicians wore sus
pended from their necks the instru
ments known as serimbas, which art
long gourds, on which are struns
cords of different lengths which Civ,
a variety Of sounds when struck will
drumsticks. AS the procession
started the musicians struck up, and
did not cease playing until the quee;
withdrew into her apartments. Be
hind the band walked the queen
and at considerable distance behint
her the royal suite and the oarsmeI
of her feet. AS they passed alonl
the pOpulace fell into line, and 80 th'
long procession marched until the,
reached the queens abode.
Then the master of ceremonie
spread on the ground lions skin
on which the queen took her stand
The royal suite approached within
about a hundred feet, ranged them
selves in line before the queen, liftet
their hands toward the sky, cryin,
"Loche! Loche.r and then prostratet
themselves in the dust. Next, th'
boatman went through the same Ger
emony, and then the populace, in de
tachments, paid their respects t,
their ruler in the same manner; afte
them the visitors in the village, anC
soon after, surrounded by her youn,
women, gave an audience to th'
white man.
She had a wheezy accordion, owe
whose keys she ran her fingers witt
surprising agility, and she played |
curious medley OF savage airs. Sh'
was very proud of her musical &C
complishments, which, however, di'
not greatly impress her visitor. Mr.
COillard has been permitted to estab
lish q mission in this town, where